Phosphorescent marine products

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a marine article of the invention includes a phosphorescent phosphor. A particularly advantageous phosphorescent phosphor comprises MAl 2 O 4 . As used herein, “M” is at least one cation selected from a group consisting of calcium, strontium, and barium. The phosphor comprises 0.001% to 10% of a europium activator, and 0.001% to 10% of at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, tin and bismuth as a co-activator, in terms of mol % relative to the metal element expressed by M. The phosphorescent marine article has an afterglow corresponding to a luminance of at least 0.3 mCd/m 2 for at least 420 minutes.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A phosphorescent marine product comprising; 
 a marine article; and    a phosphorescent phosphor;    wherein, the phosphorescent phosphor comprises MAl 2 O 4  wherein M is at least one cation selected from a group consisting of calcium, strontium, and barium, wherein the phosphor comprises 0.001% to 10% of a europium activator, and wherein the phosphor comprises 0.001% to 10% of at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, tin and bismuth as a co-activator, in terms of mol % relative to the metal element expressed by M.    
     
     
         2 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into a tape and the tape is affixed to the marine article.  
     
     
         3 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the marine article comprises a polymer and the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into the polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 3   , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, copolymer of ethylene, copolymer of vinyl acetate, terpolymer of acrylonitrile, terpolymer of butadiene and terpolymer of styrene.  
     
     
         5 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into a paint and the paint covers at least a portion of the marine article.  
     
     
         6 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 5   , wherein the paint comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         7 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the marine article is a dock accessory selected from the group consisting of dock fenders, post fenders, bumpers, dock trim, step trim, cleats, ladders, post caps and dock lights.  
     
     
         8 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the marine article is a boat accessory selected from the group consisting of bumpers, sails, masts, lettering, numbering, marine rope, trailer guides, trailer rollers, ladders, covers, shift knobs, throttle knobs, steering wheels and instrument gauges.  
     
     
         9 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the marine article is a personal accessory selected from the group consisting of jackets, knives, coolers, drinking glasses, tools, and patches.  
     
     
         10 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 1   , wherein the marine article is a floatation device selected from the group consisting of buoys, buoy wraps, buoy caps, life jackets, floating key rings, ring buoy/life savers and floating cushions.  
     
     
         11 . A phosphorescent marine product comprising; 
 a buoy cap or a dock post cap; and    a phosphorescent phosphor;    wherein, the phosphorescent phosphor comprises MAl 2 O 4  wherein M is at least one cation selected from a group consisting of calcium, strontium, and barium, wherein the phosphor comprises 0.001% to 10% of a europium activator, and wherein the phosphor comprises 0.001% to 10% of at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, tin and bismuth as a co-activator, in terms of mol % relative to the metal element expressed by M.    
     
     
         12 . A phosphorescent marine product comprising; 
 a marine article; and    a phosphorescent phosphor;    wherein, the phosphorescent phosphor has an afterglow corresponding to a luminance of at least 0.3 mCd/m 2  for at least about 420 minutes.    
     
     
         13 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into a tape and the tape is affixed to the marine article.  
     
     
         14 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the marine article comprises a polymer and the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into the polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 14   , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, copolymer of ethylene, copolymer of vinyl acetate, terpolymer of acrylonitrile, terpolymer of butadiene and terpolymer of styrene.  
     
     
         16 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the phosphorescent phosphor is incorporated into a paint and the paint covers at least a portion of the marine article.  
     
     
         17 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 16   , wherein the paint comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         18 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the marine article is a dock accessory selected from the group consisting of dock fenders, post fenders, bumpers, dock trim, step trim, cleats, ladders, post caps and dock lights.  
     
     
         19 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the marine article is a boat accessory selected from the group consisting of bumpers, sails, masts, lettering, numbering, marine rope, trailer guides, trailer rollers, ladders, covers, shift knobs, throttle knobs, steering wheels and instrument gauges.  
     
     
         20 . The phosphorescent marine product of    claim 12   , wherein the marine article is a personal accessory selected from the group consisting of jackets, knives, coolers, drinking glasses, tools, and patches.  
     
     
         21 . A process for illuminating an article in a marine environment, comprising: 
 selecting a phosphorescent phosphor capable of an afterglow corresponding to a luminance of at least 0.3 mCd/m 2  for at least 420 minutes; and    incorporating the phosphorescent phosphor within a marine article to form a phosphorescent marine article;    wherein, the phosphorescent marine article is chemically stable and physically durable in an outdoor marine environment.